Chiropractors have always maintained that chiropractic care is not just for the treatment of back and neck pain, but is in fact effective for other conditions issues as well. A new case study, published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine backs these claims by examining the treatment of arm and hand pain. A 41-year-old female patient was experiencing alarming pain, numbness and weakness in her right arm and hand. Her symptoms had begun three weeks prior to treatment, when she woke up in the morning and assumed she had “slept wrong.” Medical assessments confirmed her pain, numbness and decreased grip strength. Treatment began immediately and included specific chiropractic manipulative therapy as well as myofascial therapy and elastic therapeutic taping. The patient was also assigned an active home care regimen which included postural exercises and workstation ergonomics education. The results—The patient showed immediate improvement of her numbness and weakness after just the first treatment. The case study’s authors noted that over a series of eleven treatments, her symptoms were completely resolved and she was able to return to work without pain. If you’re experiencing any sort of body pain, numbness or loss of strength, contact your local chiropractor today. Consultations are affordable, safe and chances are very good that chiropractic care may be able to help!

During National Chiropractic Health Month this fall, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and chiropractic physicians nationwide will promote the importance of joint health and the vital role physical activity plays in keeping joints healthy and pain free. This year’s theme—"Get Vertical"—focuses on getting off the couch or out of the office chair, and standing or moving more each day. Most people nowadays know someone with joint pain, and joint replacement surgery—particularly involving hips and knees—is commonplace. What many do not know is that simple lifestyle changes can in some cases help prevent the need for this type of surgery and keep joints healthier longer. "Remaining physically active and pain-free is an important measure of the quality of someone’s life, and chiropractic physicians can help by providing exercise and lifestyle recommendations, nutritional advice, and natural approaches to managing aches and pains," said ACA President Keith Overland, DC. "Just a few healthy lifestyle changes, over time, can potentially mean the difference between being scheduled for joint replacement surgery or remaining active and pain-free well into one’s golden years." In honor of National Chiropractic Health Month, ACA offers these tips to help you get vertical and stay pain-free:

Stand up: Office dwellers can look into using standing desks or treadmill desks; but if you’re stuck sitting all day, you can still stretch your legs with a short walk about every 20 to 30 minutes.

Get moving: You don’t have to work out like a pro-athlete, just aim for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes of exercise three to five days a week.

Eat right: A healthy diet—rich in fruits, vegetables and healthy fats—can help reduce inflammation and joint pain. Also limit red meat, refined sugar and white flour. Just a few simple changes can help maintain a healthy weight and have a positive impact on your overall health.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2013, is the largest professional association in the United States representing doctors of chiropractic. ACA promotes the highest standards of patient care and professional ethics, and supports research that contributes to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients.

After a heart attack, some survivors make a commitment to a healthier diet in the hopes of prolonging their lives, while unfortunately, others do not. A new study now confirms that those who make lasting dietary changes experience a much lower mortality risk than those who make no changes at all. Beginning in the 1970’s, researchers tracked the dietary habits of thousands of men and women, none of whom had a history of cardiovascular disease, stroke or cancer. The participants were assigned diet-quality scores based on their consumption of red and processed meats, nuts, sugar-sweetened beverages, vegetables, fats, alcohol, whole grains and salt. Over time, out of the 4,098 subjects used for this study, approximately 1,133 had heart attacks. The researchers tracked changes to the diet scores after the heart attacks and found that individuals who improved their diets were 30 percent less likely to die from any cause and 40 percent less likely to die of heart disease than those whose scores remained unchanged. Positive changes in diet included increases in the consumption of whole grains, fruits and vegetables and reduced consumption of trans fats, meat and sugary drinks. Overall, individuals who made the greatest improvements to their scores experienced a 30 percent reduction in subsequent mortality and cardiac events than those who made little or no improvements.

A new study suggests that two chemicals widely used in food packaging increase the risk of obesity and diabetes in children. Researchers at New York University compiled five years of health and nutrition data from 766 adolescents aged 12 to 19. The data included blood and urine samples which were later analyzed to determine the presence of BPA and phthalates. Bisphenol A, or BPA, is an industrial chemical used to line aluminum cans and a particular type of phthalate is a common additive designed to soften plastic. Both chemicals have been found to leach into foods over time. The plastic softening phthalate found in urine samples was linked to a higher risk of insulin resistance in teenagers. BPA in the same samples positively correlated with higher rates of adolescent obesity. Insulin resistance and obesity are considered precursors to diabetes. Over the last 30 years the rates of childhood obesity have exploded in the US, doubling in children and tripling in adolescents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now consider one in six US children obese. While unhealthy diets and lack of exercise are widely cited for this increase, researchers are also increasingly focused on the role of environmental chemicals as as contributing factor. In 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned BPA from baby bottles, but refrained from issuing a more widespread ban, stating more research was needed before issuing further restrictions. Concerningly, there are no current regulations on the use of phthalates.